Composites Manufacturers can use ACMA Silica Study to Comply with Updated OSHA Standard

05 April 2016

A 2015 study on respirable crystalline silica, completed for the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) by an expert consultant and under the guidance of the ACMA Government Affairs Committee, can help composites manufacturers comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Final Rule for Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) published in the March 25 Federal Register.

According to ACMA, the updated OSHA standard will require composites manufacturers to comply with an 8-hour workplace exposure limit for RCS of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, and an action level requiring certain preventative measures of 25 micrograms per cubic meter. OSHA says compliance with the new standard will greatly improve workplace safety for millions of workers in the US. Employers are required to comply with the standard by 23 June 2018.

ACMA says its study could serve as a tool to help its members understand if this new standard applies to them. The study indicates that there may be instances where the standard may not apply. For more information and the ruling or ACMA's study, member companies can obtain information on the association's website.